, 1887-11-29
NEW YORK WOMEN WHO SHOOT.

Hunters Among the Fair Sex Who Handle
a Gun as Well rs n Man.
'I'd like you TO make me a first class
shotgun"
The speaker was n New York woman OF
fashion and the place was a down tow
gun store. After she had told the pro-
prietor that the gun was &c nave a 2S cal
iber barrel, was to be of the Greener style
and to weigh 8 l-2 pounds, and that she
wanted an extra set of 80 caliber rifle
barrels, and had left the store, the pro-
prietor said:
THAT order will cost her 1919. Are
there many lady hunters' l should say
there were. Perhaps you would be sur
prised to be told that at least 500 women
OF this city are at the present time in the
Adirondacks with their husbands, fathers
and brothers, hunting or fishingi but it is
a fact all the same. DO they shoot big
game' Certainly they do, and n good
many more of this city's wealthy ladies
than you imagine have the record of
shooting a deer. Many of them, too,
shoot with great skill on the wing, and
they develop a great fondness for the
sport. The way they handle n rifle or
shotgun when they come in here would
surprise n man not used to seeing TINT
sort OF thing. They take up a gun and
bring it TO the shoulder just as dextcrous-
y d9 a hIhh bOtSs Intg HIc JuSb us lHItl-
ligent regarding the weapon also, know
ing exactly what length they want and
what bend of stock"
Are most of the lady hunters mar
riedy''
by no means. While a large proper
ton OF them are wives of sportsmen, hav-
ing learned TO shoot when with their hus-
bands camping out, there are also many
fine shots among the younger and unmar-
ried portion. Why, l have some come in
here to buy guns who are not over 10 or
II years old, and who are expert shots.
Only the other day Il very bright and at
tractive young woman was brought in
here by her father to purchase n shotgun.
She was a fine shot and had been accus-
toned to the use of firearms since she was
a little girl. She was particularly expert
in shooting on the wing, and would bring
down as many birds as a regular sports
man would ordinarily. No, they don't
care for fancy stocks, silver mountings or
any fancy fixings, singular rs 1t may
seem. What they seem to want is a
plainly finished gun, but one that Is of
first class material and can be depended
upon. Some of the guns / hnve made for
ladies have cost as high as $3.50 each.
Are the guns for women made differ
emily in any way from those for menu
Yes, we always make the stock shorter,
from 1-2 to "a OF an inch, the same as for
a boy ~ or IS years old. We sometimes,
also, make a hunting costume especially
for ladies. This is n corduroy, the jacket
being cut very like that usually worn by
sportsmen and the skirt close fitting. The
cost Of such a suit runs from $25 to $50.
Many of them while hunting wear boots
with broad soles."
"How do they stand the fatiguetf
Exceedingly well. Yes, | can give
you an example which will show you how
brave and enthusiastic they are as hunt
ers. 1t was in New Brunswick, last
month, that Mr.. NJ. Adams, accompanied
by his wife, made a trip to the head
waters of the northwest Miramichi. Mrs.
Adams rode eighteen miles over a por-
tage road on n blackboard. After a
days rest she went up the river a
distance of nineteen miles with her
husband in a canoe. They camped all
night near the foot OF the Bald noun
tains, the lady thus having the honor OF
being the first white woman that ever
visited that wild region. They returned
to their first days amp the next day
again in their canoe. Throughout the
whole of the rough passage Mrs. AdamS'
pluck and endurance were such that any
sportsman might nave envled. New
York Mail and Express.